Despite being plagued by injuries throughout his career, Walton's impact on the game and his unique blend of scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking make him one of the most respected big men in basketball history. After retiring as a player, he became a prominent basketball commentator and analyst. Some of our favorite memories are when he voiced the PAC12, the "Conference of Champions".

In addition to his basketball career, Bill Walton is also known for his passion for cycling, often using it as a form of exercise and transportation. He's been an avid cyclist for years, advocating for its benefits to personal physical and mental health and the environment. He was the example athlete, most visible to the public eye, of a BALL athlete moving to the BIKE in their later years. In short, the entire Always An Athlete thesis and mission was built around Bills example. When he endorsed us...it was a dream come true. We will... Always Ride to honor your legacy!

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I’m the luckiest girl in the world, to have known and been supported by Bill Walton.

He was the first male athlete to encourage and endorse me and this thesis. Literally two names on post it notes on my computer as I wrote the Always An Athlete book:

Bill Walton

Bo Jackson

For years- Bill and Bo. “My bike is my gym, my wheelchair and my church all in one. I’d like to ride my bike all day long but I’ve got this thing called a job that keeps getting in the way.” Bill understood my heart and journey in ways not many have. He understood the darkness : his feet, his back, his knees - the bike was his answer. As it has been mine.

These past few months I’ve been going through his sports incubator program SDSI in San Diego. Assigned  a mentor team and keeping a watchful eye, we planned to connect in person again after I finished…hopefully to go on a bike ride together. Via text and email he answered me faster than friends and family. “Under 24 hours” he promised me.

When he didn’t answer back I knew something was up and when I inquired, I found out he was not doing too well. I didn’t understand the seriousness. Today I’m beyond sad, I’m heartbroken. I have not cried this hard in years. I was just about to update him (literally planning on writing the endorsement team today) about my bike ride I had last week with WISE Los Angeles.

I was going to ask him to pick the date for the BIG BIG ride May 2025 with AEG to lead the charge. He was SO pumped when they said YES last summer to the ride. And he agreed with me to push it back to 2025 vs 2024 to give myself more time for my own mental health.

Now, we won’t get to do the ride *with* him. Rather it will be dedicated *to* him.

Thank you Bill for all of your support. I am forever thankful for your heart and vision for the world. Roll on forever!

I’m the luckiest girl in the world, to have known and been supported by Bill Walton.

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